7 Surprising Psoriasis Triggers

Being aware of these unsuspected culprits can help you better manage your psoriasis and maybe even avoid psoriasis flares.

Causes of Psoriasis Symptoms You Might Not Suspect

1

image

A
minor cut, a change in the weather, or a stressful day might not lead to
symptoms for most people, but for those with psoriasis, it could trigger an
itchy, burning rash — known as a psoriasis flare. Psoriasis triggers
can vary dramatically from person to person, says April Abernethy, ND, director
of medical programs at the National Psoriasis Foundation. Knowing about these
unusual triggers for psoriasis — plus how to avoid them and a potential
flare — can help you better manage your condition.

Stress

2

image

Stress
doesn't just lead to symptoms like tension headaches — it's also one
of the biggest triggers for psoriasis flares. Under stressful conditions, the
level of cortisol, a stress hormone, was noticeably higher among people with
psoriasis than it was in those without the condition, according to research published in the
British Journal of Dermatology in April 2014. The study also found that stress
could make psoriasis worse. Stephanie Waits, MPH, 27, a health educator at San
Diego State University, has first-hand experience with this. The more stressed
she is, the more likely she is to have a psoriasis flare. And, she says,
"if I have a mini-flare and get stressed, the stress causes it to get
worse."

Infection

3

image

"I
find the main thing that flares my psoriasis is my health, especially when I
get a bad cold or the flu," says Simon Jury, 41, a credit controller and psoriasis blogger in Essex in the
United Kingdom. Doctors back up this claim: When you add the stress of fighting
the flu or another infection to an immune system that's already affected by an
inflammatory condition like psoriasis, it can cause a flare, Dr. Abernethy
says.

Temperature Extremes

4

image

For
many people with psoriasis, the weather can either be a psoriasis trigger or
prevent psoriasis symptoms. For Jury, the bitterly cold winter weather where he
lives often causes flares. But Waits finds that living in a sunny, humid
climate like San Diego helps keep her psoriasis symptoms under control.
Abernethy says that any extreme in temperature can be irritating to the skin.
Even taking too hot of a shower can trigger psoriasis symptoms. She advises
avoiding extremes in temperature as much as possible.

Alcohol

5

image

Alcoholic
beverages such as beer, wine, and spirits can trigger a psoriasis flare in some
people. The quantity of alcohol consumed matters, too. "I 'm not a heavy
drinker, but on the rare occasion that I overindulge, I do find my skin can be
quite irritated for the next few days," Jury says. Abernethy says that alcohol
can indeed exacerbate psoriasis symptoms for some people. Drinking beer in
particular has been linked to a higher risk for developing psoriasis in women.

Diet

6

image

Dietary
triggers for psoriasis can be different for each person. "Sugar is one of my
triggers," Waits says. "When I cut out as much sugar as I can, I've noticed
that my psoriasis is easier to manage and my treatment works better." Whether
or not you're sensitive to sugar, Abernethy says that keeping your diet clean
by eating whole foods and healthy fats, rather than a highly processed diet,
can make it easier to get the nutrition you need and reduce psoriasis symptoms.

Medications

7

image

Medications
for other conditions can be a psoriasis trigger for some people. Drugs known to
aggravate psoriasis include lithium — which is used to treat
psychiatric disorders — and antimalarial drugs, such as quinacrine,
chloroquine, and hydroxychloroquine. Medications that have been linked to
psoriasis symptoms include propranolol, which is used to treat high blood
pressure, the heart disease drug quinidine, and the anti-inflammatory drug
indomethacin. If you're concerned that your medications for other health conditions
may be affecting your psoriasis, talk to your doctor.

Skin Injuries

8

image

In
what's known as the Koebner phenomenon, an injury or trauma to the skin
— such as a cut, burn, bug bite,
or even getting a tattoo — can sometimes trigger a psoriasis
flare. Waits says she's experienced psoriasis flares triggered by the Koebner phenomenon
after getting cuts or small burns from a curling iron or stove top.

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:verify here.

Advertising Notice

This Site and third parties who place advertisements on this Site may collect and use information about
your visits to this Site and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of
interest to you. If you would like to obtain more information about these advertising practices and to make
choices about online behavioral advertising, please click here.